Who are living donors and why do they donate?

A living donor transplant is when a healthy person donates 1 of their 2 kidneys to someone whose kidneys no longer work. Anyone can learn about donating a kidney and consider if donating a kidney is right for them. Donors can include family, such as siblings, parents, cousins, or spouses. They can also just be friends, co-workers, or even a kind stranger. Here are a few reasons living donors give:

To help my friend feel better

To make a difference

I need my mom around

To help my sister live a long time

To have everyone’s lives return to normal

To grow old together

To help someone in need

Who can be a living donor?

At most transplant centers, your living donor must be:

At least 18 years old

Healthy and active

Able to take time off work or school to get the tests and interviews

Able to take off at least 2-3 weeks from work or school after the surgery

At most transplant centers, a living kidney donor can’t:

Have kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, or cancer

Have high blood pressure that is difficult to control

Have certain viruses such as hepatitis C or HIV

Be very overweight (BMI over 35)

Have drug or alcohol problems

Let your transplant center do the screening to know what they will and won’t accept.